Packing member

ABSTRACT

A packing member for packing a sheet feeding device includes a packing bag, a first cushioning material, a second cushioning material, a connecting member connecting the first cushioning material and the second cushioning material, a third cushioning material, and a tubular member. The first cushioning material and the second cushioning material are contacted to an inner surface of the tubular member by an elastic force of the connecting member and tension of the packing bag generating with mounting of the first cushioning material, and the second cushioning material and the third cushioning material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART

The present invention relates to a packing member for packing a sheetfeeding device or the like mounted in an image forming apparatus.

A product such as the sheet feeding device mounted in the image formingapparatus is packed by the packing member in order to prevent vibrationduring transportation and breakage due to impact when the sheet feedingdevice is shipped from a factory. In the packing member, a cushioningmaterial is provided.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a packing member disclosed inJapanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) 2010-89836. As shown inFIG. 7, a packing member 200 is constituted by a packing box (tubularmember) 103 having a rectangular cylindrical and box-like shape of whichbottom is open and by a base member 102 and cushioning materials 105,and packs a product 101. These members are integrated into a unit byengaging joint members 106 in engaging holes 102 a of the base member102 and engaging holes 103 a of the packing box 103.

Further, at side surfaces of the packing box 103, engaging pieces 103 acapable of being bent inwardly are provided. The engaging pieces 103 aare caught and engaged in groove portions 105 a formed on the cushioningmaterials 105 by being bent. By such a constitution, the packing box 103holds the cushioning materials 105 by the engaging pieces 103 a and iscapable of being removed together with the connecting members 105 whenthe packing box 103 is dismounted during unpacking.

However, in the constitution disclosed in JP-A 2010-89836, in order toreuse the packing member (material), there is a need to repeat bendingand stretching of the engaging pieces 103 a of the packing box 103. Inthis case, there is a liability that the engaging pieces 103 a of thepacking box 103 become fatigued and are broken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished in view of theabove-described circumstances, and a principal object of the presentinvention is to provide a packing member in which a tubular member andconnecting members are simultaneously unpacked and which is easilyreused.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided apacking member for packing a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet,wherein the sheet feeding device includes an upper surface having asubstantially rectangular shape and a bottom having an area larger thanan area of the upper surface, the packing member comprising: a packingbag made of polyethylene or polypropylene and configured to pack thesheet feeding device; a first cushioning material including a firstengaging portion and mounted to a corner portion of the upper surface ofthe sheet feeding device in a state in which the sheet feeding device ispacked in the packing bag; a second cushioning material including asecond engaging portion and mounted to a corner portion of the uppersurface of the sheet feeding device in the state in which the sheetfeeding device is packed in the packing bag, wherein the corner portionto which the second cushioning material is mounted is adjacent to thecorner portion to which the first cushioning material is mounted; aconnecting member connecting the first cushioning material and thesecond cushioning material and including a first bent portion bent so asto engage with the first engaging portion and a second bent portionwhich is bent so as to engage with the second engaging portion and whichopposes the first bent portion through the sheet feeding device in abent state; and a third cushioning material mounted to the bottom of thesheet feeding device in the state in which the sheet feeding device ispacked in the packing bag; and a tubular member accommodating the sheetfeeding device in a state in which the first cushioning material, thecushioning material and the third cushioning material are mounted to thesheet feeding device, wherein the first cushioning material and thesecond cushioning material are contacted to an inner surface of thetubular member by an elastic force of the connecting member and tensionof the packing bag generating with mounting of the first cushioningmaterial, the second cushioning material and the third cushioningmaterial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a packing member.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an upper portion cushioning material.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view cushioning materials of the upper portioncushioning material.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the packing member in which a sheetfeeding device is packed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an upper portion cushioning material.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of cushioning materials of the upperportion cushioning material.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional packing member.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment <Packing Member>

In the following, first, a general structure of a packing memberaccording to First Embodiment will be described with reference to thedrawings. Incidentally, dimensions, materials, shapes, relativearrangement and the like of constituent described in the followingembodiments are not intended such that the scope of the presentinvention is limited only thereto unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a packing member 50. As shownin FIG. 1, the packing member 5 is constituted by a packing box 42, anupper portion cushioning material 30, a packing bag 41, a lower portioncushioning material 20 and a base member 11. Further, in the packingmember 50, a sheet feeding device 100 to be mounted to a lower portionof an unshown image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet.

The sheet feeding device 100 is an option product to be externallyattached to the unshown image forming apparatus and is a device forfeeding the sheet toward an image forming portion for forming the imageon the sheet. The sheet feeding device 100 includes a sheet cassette(not shown), a sheet feeding roller (not shown), and a conveying roller(not shown), and sends the sheet, stacked on the sheet cassette, towardthe image forming portion by the sheet feeding roller and the conveyingroller.

Further, the sheet feeding device 100 includes an upper surface 100 ahaving a substantially rectangular shape and has a shape such that anarea of a bottom (surface) 100 b is larger than an area of the uppersurface 100 a. Incidentally, the substantially rectangular referred toherein includes a shape such that corner portions of a rectangle arecurved surfaces and a shape such that the corner portions are chamfered.Further, to the bottom 100 b, caster 100 c for moving the sheet feedingdevice 100 are attached.

The packing bag 42 (tubular member) is a member having a rectangularcylindrical and box-like shape of which bottom is open. The packing bag42 is formed with a packing material such as corrugated cardboard(plate) including plastic corrugated cardboard. The packing bag 42 isconstituted by a top plate 42 b covering the upper surface 100 a of thesheet feeding device 100 and four side plates 42 a covering sidesurfaces of the sheet feeding device 100.

The base member 11 is formed with a pallet or the like made of wood soas to withstand and a weight of the sheet feeding device 100. At thefour side surfaces of the base member 11, fork inserting portions 11 afor permitting insertion of a fork of a fork-lift are formed,respectively.

The packing bag 41 is a so-called plastic being made of polyethylene orpolypropylene. The packing bag 41 packs the sheet feeding device 100 andprevents contamination and scars of the sheet feeding device.

The upper portion cushioning material 30 is constituted by fourcushioning materials 34 (34 a to 34 d) mounted to the four cornerportions, respectively, of the upper surface 100 a of the sheet feedingdevice 100 in a packed state in which the sheet feeding device 100 ispacked in the packing bag 41 and by a connecting member 35 connectingthe four cushioning materials 34. The cushioning materials 34 are formedwith expanded (foamed) polystyrene. The connecting member 35 is formedwith a packing material such as corrugated cardboard including plasticcorrugated cardboard. The upper portion cushioning material 30 not onlysuppresses application of an external force to the sheet feeding device100 but also prevents deviation of a position of the sheet feedingdevice 100 inside the packing member 50.

The lower portion cushioning material 20 (third cushioning material) isconstituted by two cushioning materials 21 (21 a and 21 d) mounted tothe bottom 100 b of the sheet feeding device 100 in the packed state inthe packing bag 41 and by an intermediary member 23 provided between thetwo cushioning materials 21. The cushioning materials 21 are formed withexpanded (foamed) polystyrene. The intermediary member 23 is formed witha packing material such as corrugated cardboard including plasticcorrugated cardboard. The lower portion cushioning material 20 not onlysuppresses application of an external force to the sheet feeding device100 but also prevents deviation of a position of the sheet feedingdevice 100 inside the packing member 50. Incidentally, by bending a partof the intermediary member 23, an interval between the cushioningmaterials 21 a and 21 b can be defined.

<Upper Portion Cushioning Material>

Next, a structure of the upper portion cushioning material 30 will bedescribed specifically.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion cushioning material30. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cushioning materials 34 of theupper portion cushioning material 30.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cushioning materials 34 a-34 d areprovided with slits 34 x and chamfered portions 34 z. Further, theconnecting member 35 is provided with a first bent portion 35 a bentdownward at one end portion thereof and a second bent portion 35 b bentdownward at the other end portion thereof. The first bent portion 35 aand the second bent portion 35 b oppose each other through the sheetfeeding device 100.

The first bent portion 35 a engages in the slits 34 x (first engagingportion) formed in the cushioning materials 34 a and 34 c (firstcushioning material) mounted to adjacent (two) corner portions of theupper surface 100 a of the sheet feeding device 100. The second bentportion 35 b engages in the slits 34 x (second engaging portion) formedin the cushioning materials 34 b and 34 d (second cushioning material)mounted to adjacent (two) corner portions of the upper surface 100 a ofthe sheet feeding device 100. Thus, the four connecting members 34 areconnected with each other by the connecting member 35. Further, byadjusting bent portions of the connecting member 35, an interval of thecushioning materials 34 a and 34 c with the cushioning materials 34 band 34 d can be defined.

That is, the connecting member 35 includes the first bent portion 35 abent so as to engage in the slits 34 x formed in the cushioningmaterials 34 a and 34 c and includes the second bent portion 35 b bentso as to engage in the slits 34 x formed in the cushioning materials 34b and 34 d. Further, the first bent portion 35 a and the second bentportion 35 b oppose each other through the sheet feeding device 100 in abent state. Further, the cushioning materials 34 b and 34 d are mountedto the corner portions different from the corner portions to which thecushioning materials 34 a and 34 c are mounted.

<Packing Method>

Next, a packing method the packing member 50 will be described.

When the sheet feeding device 100 is packed by the packing member 50,first, the two cushioning materials 21 of the lower portion cushioningmaterial 20 are placed on the base member 11 so as to oppose each other.Then, the intermediary member 23 is placed at a position between the twocushioning materials 21.

Next, the sheet feeding device 100 is packed by the packing bag 41.Thereafter, the cushioning materials 21 a and 21 b are mounted to thebottom 100 b of the sheet feeding device 100 in the packed state, sothat the sheet feeding device 100 is placed on the lower portioncushioning material 20.

Next, the four cushioning materials 34 of the upper portion cushioningmaterial 30 are mounted so as to cover the four corner portions of theupper surface 100 a of the sheet feeding device 100. Thereafter, theconnecting member 35 is bent corresponding to intervals of the fourcushioning materials 34, so that the first bent portion 35 a and thesecond bent portion 35 b are formed. Then, the first bent portion 35 aand the second bent portion 35 b are engaged in the slits 34 x of thecushioning materials 34.

Next, an open portion of the packing box 42 is disposed downward, andthe above-prepared structure is covered with the packing box 42 fromabove. That is, the packing box 42 accommodates the sheet feeding device100 which is packed in the packing bag 41 and which is in a state inwhich the lower portion cushioning material 20 and the upper portioncushioning material 30 are mounted to the sheet feeding device 100.Here, the cushioning materials 34 are provided with the chamferedportions 34 z, and therefore, the structure is easily covered with thepacking box 42 from above. Thus, a packing operation is completed.

<Forces Acting an Packing Member>

Next, forces acting on the packing member 50 in the packed state of thesheet feeding device 100 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the packing member 50 in the state inwhich the sheet feeding device 100 is packed in the packing member 50.As shown in FIG. 4, in the state in which the sheet feeding device 100is packed in the packing member 50, dimensions of the four cushioningmaterials 34 mounted to the sheet feeding device 100 are set so as tocontact an inner surface of the top plate 42 b and inner surfaces of theside plates 42 a of the packing box 42, respectively.

Here, as regards the connecting member 35, an elastic force for causingthe bent portions to open acts on the first bent portion 35 a and thesecond bent portion 35 b.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, an interval between a contact surface ofthe cushioning materials 34 a and 34 c with the side plate 42 a and acontact surface of the cushioning materials 34 b and 34 d with the other(opposite) side plate 42 a is D2. Further, an interval, which is aninterval between the inner surfaces of the opposing side plates 42 a ofthe packing box 42, between a contact surface of the packing box 42 withthe cushioning materials 34 a and 34 c and a contact surface of thepacking box 42 with the cushioning materials 34 b and 34 d is D1. Atthis time, in the case of D1<D2, when the structure is covered with thepacking box 42, a portion between the first bent portion 35 a and thesecond bent portion 35 b of the connecting member 35 is flexed in anup-down direction, so that an elastic force by which the flexed portionis returned to an original position acts on the connecting member 35.

These elastic forces of the connecting member 35 act, through thecushioning materials 34, as forces for pressing the inner surfaces ofthe side plates 42 a of the packing box 42 outward. Incidentally, D1<D2is satisfied, so that although the structure is not readily covered withthe packing box 42, this problem can be solved by proving the chamferedportions 34 z of the cushioning materials 34. Further, with mounting ofthe upper portion cushioning material 30 and the lower portioncushioning material 20 to the sheet feeding device 100, at a portion 41a between a portion of the packing bag 41 contacting the lower portioncushioning material 20 and a portion of the packing bag 41 contactingthe upper portion cushioning material 30, tension is generated bystretching of the portion 41 a by the lower portion cushioning material20 and the upper portion cushioning material 30. This tension acts as aforce for pressing the cushioning materials 34 toward the inner surfacesof the side plates 42 a of the packing box 42.

That is, the elastic force of the connecting member 35 and the tensionof the packing bag 41 which are described above act as a force F1 (FIG.4) pressing the cushioning materials 34 against the packing box 42. Thatis, the cushioning materials 34 are press-contacted to the innersurfaces of the side plates 42 a of the packing box 42 by this force F1.On the other hand, the cushioning materials 34 are mounted to the sheetfeeding device 100, and therefore, although a force F2 (FIG. 2) forpressing the cushioning materials 34 toward the sheet feeding device 100through the packing bag 41 also somewhat acts, the force F2 is smallerthan the force F1.

For this reason, when a maximum static frictional force: fmax1=μ1×F1between the cushioning material 34 and the packing box 42 and a maximumstatic frictional force: fmax2=μ2×F2 between the cushioning material 34and the packing bag 41 are compared with each other, fmax1>fmax2 issatisfied. Here, μ1 represents friction coefficient between thecushioning material 34 and the packing box 42, and μ2 representsfriction coefficient between the cushioning material 34 and the packingbag 41.

Thus, the cushioning materials 34 are press-contacted to the packing box42, whereby a frictional force between the cushioning materials 34 andthe packing box 42 becomes strong, and the upper portion cushioningmaterial 30 is held by the packing box 42. Accordingly, when the packingbox 42 is dismounted from the sheet feeding device 100 during unpackingof the packing member 50, the upper portion cushioning material 30 canbe dismounted together with the packing box 42.

Incidentally, in general, the corrugated cardboard is higher in frictioncoefficient than the plastic bag. An actually measured value of thefriction coefficient μ1 between the cushioning material 34 and thepacking box 42 which are used in this embodiment is μ1=0.31, and anactually measured value of the friction coefficient μ2 between thecushioning material 34 and the packing bag 41 which are used in thisembodiment is μ2=0.21. However, in the case where the packing box 42made with the plastic corrugated cardboard is used, a principal materialof the plastic corrugated cardboard is polypropylene, and therefore, thefriction coefficient between the cushioning material 34 and the packingbox 42 can be equivalent to the friction coefficient between thecushioning material 34 and the packing bag 41. Even in this case, theabove-described relationship F1>F2 is satisfied by the elastic force ofthe connecting member 35 and the tension of the packing bag 41. For thatreason, fmax1 which is the maximum static frictional force between thecushioning material 34 and the packing box 42 is larger than fmax2 whichis the maximum static frictional force between the cushioning material34 and the packing bag 41 (fmax1>fmax2). Accordingly, when the packingbox 42 is dismounted, the upper portion cushioning material 30 isdismounted together with the packing box 42, but the packing bag 41 isleft as it is.

Further, the cushioning materials 34 are held by the packing box 42 bythe above-described frictional force, and therefore, when the packingbox 42 is dismounted from the sheet feeding device 100 and when thesheet feeding device 100 is covered again with the packing box 42, theseoperations can be performed without bending the packing box 42 and theupper portion cushioning material 30. Accordingly, the packing box 42and the upper portion cushioning material 30 do not readily becomefatigued, and thus are reused easier than a conventional constitution.Thus, according to the constitution of this embodiment, not only thepacking box 42 and the upper portion cushioning material 30 can besimultaneously dismounted (unpacked) from the sheet feeding device 100,but also the packing member 50 can be easily reused.

Further, with respect to a dismounting direction (upward direction inFIG. 4) of the packing box 42, a contact distance of the cushioningmaterial 34 and the inner surface of the side plate 42 a of the packingbox 42 is L1 (FIG. 4), and a contact distance of the cushioning material34, the packing bag 41 and the sheet feeding device 100 is L2 (FIG. 4).At this time, L1>L2 may preferably be satisfied. In this embodiment,L1=110 mm and L2=60 mm. As a result, as in the case where the plasticcorrugated cardboard is used as the material of the packing box 42, evenin the case where the force F1 and the force F2 are substantially equalto each other and the values of the friction coefficient are thesubstantially same, when the packing box 42 is dismounted, the contactdistances L1 and L2 are decreased correspondingly. As a result, in thecase where the cushioning materials 34 are separated from the sheetfeeding device 100 packed by the packing bag 41 (L2=0), the packing box42 and the cushioning materials 34 maintain a contact state therebetweenin a region of L1−L2 (≠0), and therefore, the cushioning materials 34are in contact state with the packing box 42. Accordingly, thecushioning materials 34 can be easily held by the packing box 42.

Incidentally, after the packing box 42 is dismounted during theunpacking of the packing member 50, the sheet feeding device 100 placedin a packed state by the packing bag 41 is dismounted from the lowerportion cushioning material 20 by being raised from the lower portioncushioning material 20. Thereafter, the packing bag 41 is removed fromthe sheet feeding device 100. As a result, the unpacking of the packingmember 50 is completed. Further, when the packing member 50 iscollected, the packing bag 41 is placed on the lower portion cushioningmaterial 20 and is covered with the packing box 42 placed in a state inwhich the upper portion cushioning material 30 is held, so that thepacking member 50 is collected.

Second Embodiment

Next, Second Embodiment of a packing member according to the presentinvention will be described. A portion overlapping with the FirstEmbodiment in description will be omitted from description by using thesame drawings and by adding the same reference numerals or symbols.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of an upper portion cushioningmaterial 30 according to this embodiment and cushioning materials 34 ofthe upper portion cushioning material 30, respectively. As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, in addition to the constitution of the First Embodiment,cushioning materials 34 a to 34 d are provided with slits 34 y cut-awayin a direction perpendicular to the slits 34 x. That is, each of thefour cushioning materials 34 is provided with the slit 34 x and 34 y.

Further, the upper portion cushioning material 30 includes a secondconnecting member 36 in addition to the constitution of the FirstEmbodiment. The second connecting member 36 is formed with the packingmaterial such as the corrugated cardboard including the plasticcorrugated cardboard. Incidentally, a packing member 50 according tothis embodiment is different from the constitution of the FirstEmbodiment only in the constitution of the upper portion cushioningmaterial 30, specifically in that the slits 34 y are formed and that thesecond connecting member 36 is provided. The second connecting member 36is provided with a third bent portion 36 a bent downward at one endportion thereof and a fourth bent portion 36 b bent downward at theother end portion thereof. The third bent portion 36 a and the fourthbent portion 36 b oppose each other through the sheet feeding device100.

The third bent portion 36 a engages in the slits 34 y (third engagingportion) formed in the cushioning materials 34 a and 34 b (fourthcushioning material) mounted to adjacent (two) corner portions of theupper surface 100 a of the sheet feeding device 100. The fourth bentportion 36 b engages in the slits 34 y (fourth engaging portion) formedin the cushioning materials 34 c and 34 d (fifth cushioning material)mounted to adjacent (two) corner portions of the upper surface 100 a ofthe sheet feeding device 100. Thus, the four connecting members 34 areconnected with each other by the connecting member 35. Further, byadjusting bent portions of the second connecting member 36, an intervalof the cushioning materials 34 a and 34 b with the cushioning materials34 c and 34 d can be defined. Incidentally, the connecting member 35 andthe second connecting member 36 are disposed in an overlapping manner.

That is, the second connecting member 36 includes the third bent portion36 a bent so as to engage in the slits 34 y formed in the cushioningmaterials 34 a and 34 b and includes the fourth bent portion 36 b bentso as to engage in the slits 34 y formed in the cushioning materials 34c and 34 d. Further, the third bent portion 36 a and the fourth bentportion 36 b oppose each other through the sheet feeding device 100 in abent state. Further, the cushioning materials 34 c and 34 d are mountedto the corner portions different from the corner portions to which thecushioning materials 34 a and 34 b are mounted.

Here, on the second connecting member 36, an elastic force similar tothe elastic force acting on the connecting member 35 described in theFirst Embodiment acts. That is, the elastic force of the secondconnecting member 36 acts as a force for pressing the cushioningmaterials 34 against the inner surfaces of the side plates 42 a of thepacking box 42, and by this force, the cushioning materials 34 arepress-contacted to the inner surfaces of the side plates 42 a of thepacking box 42 with a further strong force.

Thus, by providing the second connecting member 36 in addition to theconnecting member 35, a frictional force between the cushioningmaterials 34 and the packing box 42 is further strengthened.Accordingly, a force for holding the cushioning materials 34 by thepacking box 42 is strengthened, so that the upper portion cushioningmaterial 30 is easily dismounted together with the packing box 42 duringunpacking of the packing member 50.

Incidentally in the First and Second Embodiments, as aproduct-to-be-packed of the packing member 50, although the sheetfeeding device 100 was described as an example, the present invention isnot limited thereto. That is, when the product-to-be-packed is a memberwhich includes an upper surface having a substantially rectangular shapeand which has a shape in which an area of a bottom is larger than anarea of the upper surface, an effect similar to the above-describedeffect even when other articles are used as the product-to-be-packed.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the constitution includingthe four cushioning materials 34 (34 a-34 d) was employed, with aconstitution in which a single cushioning material is mounted to twocorner portions of the upper surface 100 a of the sheet feeding device100 may also be employed. In this case, by providing two cushioningmaterials, four corner portions of the upper surface 100 a of the sheetfeeding device 100 can be covered with the two cushioning materials.Even in such a constitution including the two cushioning materials, byconnecting the two cushioning materials with the connecting member 35 asdescribed above, an effect similar to the above-described effect can beachieved.

According to the present invention, not only in the packing member, thetubular member and the cushioning materials can be unpackedsimultaneously, but also the packing member can be easily reused.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2018-139114 filed on Jul. 25, 2018, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A packing member for packing a sheet feedingdevice for feeding a sheet, wherein the sheet feeding device includes anupper surface having a substantially rectangular shape and a bottomhaving an area larger than an area of the upper surface, said packingmember comprising: a packing bag made of polyethylene or polypropyleneand configured to pack the sheet feeding device; a first cushioningmaterial including a first engaging portion and mounted to a cornerportion of the upper surface of the sheet feeding device in a state inwhich the sheet feeding device is packed in said packing bag; a secondcushioning material including a second engaging portion and mounted to acorner portion of the upper surface of the sheet feeding device in thestate in which the sheet feeding device is packed in said packing bag,wherein the corner portion to which said second cushioning material ismounted is adjacent to the corner portion to which said first cushioningmaterial is mounted; a connecting member connecting said firstcushioning material and said second cushioning material and including afirst bent portion bent so as to engage with said first engaging portionand a second bent portion which is bent so as to engage with said secondengaging portion and which opposes said first bent portion through thesheet feeding device in a bent state; and a third cushioning materialmounted to the bottom of the sheet feeding device in the state in whichthe sheet feeding device is packed in said packing bag; and a tubularmember accommodating the sheet feeding device in a state in which saidfirst cushioning material, said cushioning material and said thirdcushioning material are mounted to the sheet feeding device, whereinsaid first cushioning material and said second cushioning material arecontacted to an inner surface of said tubular member by an elastic forceof said connecting member and tension of said packing bag generatingwith mounting of said first cushioning material, said second cushioningmaterial and said third cushioning material.
 2. A packing memberaccording to claim 1, wherein said first cushioning material and saidsecond cushioning material are slits in which said bent portion and saidsecond bent portion engage, respectively.
 3. A packing member accordingto claim 1, wherein with respect to a direction in which said tubularmember is dismounted from the sheet feeding device in the state in whichthe sheet feeding device is packed in said packing bag, a contactdistance of said first cushioning material and the inner surface of saidtubular member is longer than a contact distance of said firstcushioning material, said packing bag and the sheet feeding device, anda contact distance of said second cushioning material and the innersurface of said tubular member is longer than a contact distance of saidsecond cushioning material, said packing bag and the sheet feedingdevice.
 4. A packing member according to claim 1, wherein in a statebefore the sheet feeding device is accommodated in said tubular member,an interval between a contact surface of said first cushioning materialwith the inner surface of said tubular member and a contact surface ofsaid second cushioning material with the inner surface of said tubularmember is broader than an interval between a contact surface of thesheet feeding device with said first cushioning material and a contactsurface of the sheet feeding device with said second cushioningmaterial.
 5. A packing member according to claim 1, further comprising,a fourth cushioning material which is mounted to a corner portion of theupper surface of the sheet feeding device in the state in which thesheet feeding device is packed in said packing bag and which includes athird engaging portion engaging with said first bent portion, saidcorner portion to which said fourth cushioning material is mounted isdifferent from said corner portions to which said first cushioningmaterial and said second cushioning material are mounted, and a fifthcushioning material which is mounted to a corner portion of the uppersurface of the sheet feeding device in the state in which the sheetfeeding device is packed in said packing bag and which includes a fourthengaging portion engaging with said second bent portion, said cornerportion to which said fifth cushioning material is mounted is differentfrom said corner portions to which said first cushioning material, saidsecond cushioning material and said fourth cushioning material aremounted.
 6. A packing member according to claim 5, further comprising, asecond connecting member connecting said first cushioning material, saidsecond cushioning material, said fourth cushioning material and saidfifth cushioning material and including a third bent portion so as toengage with said first cushioning material and said fourth cushioningmaterial and a fourth bent portion which is bent so as to engage withsaid second cushioning material and said fifth cushioning material andwhich opposes said third bent portion through the sheet feeding devicein a bent state, wherein said fourth cushioning material and said fifthcushioning material are press-contacted to the inner surface of saidtubular member by an elastic force of said second connecting member andthe tension of said packing bag.